Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty Lori G. Kletzer
What are your early impressions? Overwhelmingly positive. To me, personally, people couldn’t be more welcoming. I’ve gotten this really enveloping, warm welcome to the place and confirmation of the feeling that, “We’re here because we’re dedicated to this undergraduate intellectual experience.” I’ve felt that from the outset. I also have a sense that’s still forming of palpable potential and opportunities to move forward and build something. A sense of commitment and strength and desire to see Colby advance. Very aspirational. How about your life outside of academe? I like winter sports—downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing. None of that in Santa Cruz; you have to drive five hours east to Lake Tahoe with everyone else from the Bay Area. So I’m looking forward to being closer to the mountains. I’m also a water person, so the idea of being on lakes and canoeing and kayaking and all that active outdoor stuff is very appealing to me. Also, to me, being three hours from Boston is really a positive. And I like to read and go to movies and museums. I’ve discovered Railroad Square [Cinema]. What a fabulous jewel. ...
My son is in his junior year at UC Santa Barbara and he is spending that year in China—half in Shanghai and half in Hong Kong. And my 17-yearold daughter is going to be a senior in high school and, by her choice, and it’s a choice that makes sense, she’s [spending] it in California. It’s her last year. What about sports? Are you any more inclined to root for a mule than a banana slug? Yeah. Talk about two mascots where you just go, “What?” Yes, I can cheer for the mules. I am a sports fan from childhood. Football games, basketball games. I’m a swimmer, so I will go to every swim meet. I would travel to go to a swim meet. So I’m going to take in all of it. Dean Kletzer’s professional profile is online at www.colby.edu/directory_cs/lkletzer/
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